CHAPTER NINE
(chapter title-No Day But Today)
"Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up somewhere where
The clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Way above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why oh why can't I?" Jules sang, picking up the Yorkshire terrier, Fluffy, and walking off stage. Mark, Maureen, Joanne and Roger applauded loudly from the audience.
"Jules is doing wonderfully!" Joanne whispered in Roger's ear. Roger smiled and nodded. Jules had gotten the part of Dorothy, John had gotten the part of the Tin Man and Eileen had gotten the part of Glinda. Hannah and Anna were Munchkins.
After the play, Jules, John, Eileen, Hannah and Anna were waiting in the open space of the auditorium, smiling for photographs, signing autographs and looking for their parents.
"May I hold Fluffy?" John asked.
"Sure. Be careful, she had surgery two weeks ago." Jules told him, handing the Yorkshire Terrier to him. She instantly began licking his face. John laughed just as Fluffy's owner, Jessica, came up to them. Jessica had gotten the part of the Wicked Witch of the West.
"Here's Fluffy, Jessica." John handed the dog over to her owner. Fluffy whined as she was placed in her owner's arms.
"Thanks for letting her be with me, Jessica." Jules thanked her. Jessica rolled her eyes and walked away.
"There are my girls!" Roger called, walking up to Jules and Eileen and hugging them. He ruffled John's hair and hugged Hannah and Anna. Mark filmed the whole thing, laughing, along with Joanne and Maureen.
"Wanna go to the Life Café?" Maureen inquired, hugging her daughters, nieces and nephew.
"Can we get changed first, Aunt Maureen?" Eileen asked, looking down at her bright pink dress.
"Absolutely!" Maureen said, laughing. Jules, Hannah, Anna and Eileen went to the girls' dressing room while John went to the boys' dressing room. While they changed, the adults talked.
"Ready!" Jules called ten minutes later, walking down the hallway wearing black jeans, a gray t-shirt with the words "Defy Gravity" in green and tennis shoes. Her hair was still in the braided pigtails.
"You look great, sweetie." Roger said as she came closer to where they were standing. She stood against Roger as he placed an arm around her shoulders.
"We're coming!" Hannah and Anna called, running down the hallway. They were wearing matching gray sweatshirts and black jeans. John and Eileen walked behind them. Eileen was wearing a pink shirt with a picture of a white cat and light blue jeans. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail and on her feet she wore worn-out gray tennis shoes. John had on a gray baseball jersey, a blue baseball hat, dark blue jeans that were ripped at the knees and white tennis shoes.
"Let's go!" Mark urged, motioning for the kids to hurry up. The kids ran to where the adults and Jules were standing, waiting for them. The kids linked arms and skipped in front of Maureen, Joanne, Roger and Mark.
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Later that night, Eileen lay awake on the couch, holding Rain close to her chest. She looked over at Jules - she was on her side, fast asleep. Eileen sighed and got off the couch, tiptoed across the room and quietly opened the door. She quietly walked to the kitchen and started to make hot chocolate when a sleeping figure on the couch caught her eye. She tiptoed over to see who it was. Standing over the figure's face, she saw that it was a man she had never seen before. She walked quietly to Roger's room and shook him awake.
"Eileen. What is it?" Roger asked groggily. His hair was sticking up in all directions, making him look like a lion. He sat up as Eileen took his hand and led him to the couch.
"Excuse me, who're you?" Roger inquired, shaking the figure awake. The man sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Benny! What the hell are you doing here?" Roger asked, pulling Benny off the couch.
"Rog! Chill! Alison and I had a fight, so I came here." Benny explained as Mark, John and Jules came out of their rooms.
"What's going on out here?" Mark asked, putting his glasses on and seeing Benny standing in the loft.
"Close up - Benjamin Coffin III, the ex-roommate and traitor." Roger and Mark growled in unison.
"What the hell is your guys' problem? Alison and I had a fight, so I came back here - just for tonight. I'll be out of here before you know it." Benny reassured Mark and Roger.
"Why did you come back here?" Roger inquired.
"It was the only place I could think of." Benny answered.
"Right." Roger said shortly.
"What the hell is your problem, Roger?" Benny asked. He was starting to get irritated.
"The problem is you - Benjamin. You're the one that went off and married a rich girl right when we needed you the most! You're the one who went and built a damn cyber studio when there were thousands of people on the streets, freezing and even starving to death because you kicked them out of their houses for NO DAMN REASON!" Roger shouted and walked to his room and slammed the door. Jules, Eileen and John exchanged glances as Mark and Benny sat down on the couch.
"Why don't you kids go back to bed." Mark said, turning to them. It was the first time all night that one of the adults had talked to them. They nodded and went to their separate rooms - John to the guest room and Jules and Eileen to Jules' room.
"What do you think Uncle Mark's gonna do to Benny?" Jules asked, climbing back into bed.
"I don't know, Jules. I feel sorry for Benny - getting into that fight and all." Eileen commented, going to the couch, laid down and picked up Rain off of the floor. Dusting her off, Eileen put an arm around her middle.
"Hey Eileen - do you want to switch stuffed animals for just tonight?" Jules asked, standing up and walked to the couch. She was carrying Twiggy with her.
"Sure." Eileen smiled and stroked Twiggy's soft fur as Jules handed him to her.
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of Rain." Jules reassured her friend, climbing back into bed with Rain.
"Goodnight Jules. Goodnight Rain."
"Goodnight Eileen. Goodnight Twiggy."
The girls fell asleep, clutching each other's stuffed animals close to her.
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The next morning, Jules woke up early and went out to the kitchen/living area to find Mark in the kitchen, cutting up fruit.
"Morning Jules. Want a fruit salad for breakfast?" Mark asked as Jules sat on one of the stools at the kitchen counter. She nodded and watched him work.
"Uncle Mark?"
"Hmm?"
"Where's Benny?"
"Oh, your dad drove him home already."
"Are things gonna be okay between Alison and Benny?"
"I hope so."
"Why does dad hate him so much?"
"He doesn't hate him as much as you think, Jules. He actually used to be our roommate when we were younger - it was Benny, Uncle Collins, Aunt Maureen and I living here between the 1970s and 1990s. After Aunt Maureen and I broke up, and Benny moved out, I met your dad." Mark explained as he pushed a bowl of mixed fruit in front of Jules. She smiled slightly as Eileen entered the kitchen, her hair sticking up in all directions. Mark and Jules laughed as she sat down on the stool next to Jules.
"What are you laughing at?" Eileen asked sleepily.
"Nothing - your hair is just sticking up on end." Mark answered, handing her a bowl of mixed fruit as well.
"Thanks." She took the fruit and ate it.
"Let me ask you girls a question - what are you doing up at six o'clock in the morning?" Mark inquired, going over to the couch. Jules and Eileen followed him, carrying their bowls of fruit.
"I couldn't sleep." Both girls answered in unison. Mark nodded and turned the TV on low. Jules finished her fruit and fell asleep, curled up in a ball. Eileen stayed awake and talked with Mark about everything and nothing.
Eileen and Jules returned to their room and went back to sleep - Eileen on the couch and Jules in her bed.
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Meanwhile, up in heaven, three figures watched the two girls sleep. They were Mimi, Angel and Collins.
"I'm glad that Eileen is in good hands." Collins commented, watching the girls. Angel nodded and stood behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Collins smiled and looked over his shoulder at her.
"I'm so glad that Roger and Mark took her in when she really needed it." Mimi whispered, tears coming to her eyes.
"Mimi-Chica, are you okay?" Angel asked, going over to her and hugging her.
"I'm fine, Angel. I'm just watching Roger." She pointed to her husband - fast asleep on his back, an arm on his stomach and the other one behind his head. He was also snoring softly. Mimi and Angel quietly giggled at him as Collins walked over.
"What are you two girls giggling at now?" Collins inquired, smiling.
"Just at how funny Roger looks." Mimi answered, looking up at Collins. Her face was covered in tears.
"Aww, Meems. It's okay." Collins comforted her.
"I just miss them so much." Mimi sobbed. Angel came up behind Mimi and rubbed Mimi's back. Mimi rested her head on Angel's shoulder and watched Roger continue to sleep. She laughed when he let out a loud snort and turned over on his stomach.
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Back on Earth, Jules, John and Eileen were getting up and ready to go to a friend's house to study when there was a loud knock on the door. Mark went to get it and opened the door. Standing in the doorway was Hannah. She was carrying a brown backpack and was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and jeans.
"Hannah? What are you doing here?" Mark asked, motioning for her to come in the room. She came in and went to the couch and sat down. Mark sat down next to her.
"I can't stand mom anymore!" Hannah blurted out. Realizing what she had said, she put a hand over her mouth. Mark hugged her close as Roger came into the room, still in his pajamas - an undershirt and boxer shorts - complete with happy, yellow smiley faces on them.
"Which mom?" Mark inquired.
"The one that I look like!" Hannah exclaimed, burying her face in Mark's shirt. Mark patted her back and shot Roger an 'I'll explain this later' look. Roger nodded and went back to his room to change just as Jules, Eileen and John came into the room.
"Bye uncle Mark! We're off to Jodie's house." Jules announced, grabbing her frog CD carrying case and backpack. She was just about to head out the door when she turned around and saw Hannah sitting on the couch.
"Hey Hannah. What's wrong?" John asked, sitting down next to her.
"I can't stand my mom anymore! She keeps wanting Anna and I to help her out with her stupid protests. Both of us are sick and tired of it." Hannah explained, looking at her cousins with big brown eyes. John hugged her as Eileen and Jules came back from the kitchen.
"I told Jodie that we were canceling our study date so that we could hang out with our cousin." Jules announced.
"Whoa! Wait a minute, I have to call aunt Maureen and let her know that Hannah is here." Mark said, going to the kitchen and calling Maureen's number.
"Uncle Mark! No! I don't want to go home!" Hannah protested, standing up, crossing her arms over her chest and pouted. Mark sighed and shook his head.
"Hello? Maureen? It's me Mark…I'm fine, thanks. Um, listen Hannah is here and Jules, Eileen, John, Roger and I are going to take her to the movies…yeah, Anna can come. We're gonna see Hoot - the movie about the owls. Um, what time is it now?…we were thinking of seeing the 2:15 showing at the multiplex and then going to the Life for lunch. Yup, I'll have her home by 5. 5:30 at the latest. See ya. Bye." Mark hung up the phone and turned to Hannah, Jules, Eileen and John.
"What'd she say?" Hannah asked.
"She was upset, but I think she calmed down a bit. Joanne's driving Anna over soon and then we're going to see Hoot. After the movie, we're gonna go to the Life for lunch." Mark told the group. The kids smiled at each other just as Roger entered the room.
"What's going on?" Roger asked, sitting on the couch.
"Joanne's dropping Anna off in a bit and then we're going to see Hoot. After the movie, we're going to the Life for lunch." Mark explained. Roger smiled and got up from the couch. Mark followed him to the kitchen.
"Take your AZT, Rog."
"I know, Mark. You don't have to remind me every time." Roger snapped.
Mark sighed and went to the living area and turned on the TV. He always worried about Roger. I hope Roger isn't the next one to go Mark thought to himself. He shook his head and watched TV until everyone was ready.
A/N - don't own the lyrics to Somewhere Over The Rainbow. belongs to the people (or person) who wrote The Wizard of Oz